The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

40 Episodes
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By: Manscorp Media Services

The Bridge reflects on the issues of the day, covering topics such as politics, public health, technology, and more. Find out more at https://www.thepetermansbridge.com

Your Turn -- American F35 or Swedish Gripen
#1356
Today at 5:00 PM

The emails coming into The Bridge this week were humming. You wanted your say on the debate about which fighter jet Canada should buy and you didn't hold back with what you had to say. Emails came from across the country and at least by the ones we received your choice is clear. The random Ranter is here as well and he has a very different take on the MOA signed between Alberta and Ottawa last week.


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Wednesday Endbits Special
#1355
Yesterday at 5:00 PM

The best of the leftovers we call the Endbits Specials and they've become very popular. Today, another session on how to relieve stress; where not to travel to; can air travel re-live its golden days; five foods you shouldn't eat; and is it time to make Richard Nixon great again?


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Raj and Russo -- Back to the Future
#1354
Last Tuesday at 5:00 PM

What to make of Mark Carney's decision to reach back into the Trudeau cabinet to replace another minister who quit? That's the question to the Toronto Star's Althia Raj and The Economist's Rob Russo on this latest episode of Reporter's Notebook. Also, what our two correspondents are hearing about the ongoing competition between the U.S. F35 fighter jet and Sweden's Gripen. Billions are at stake and thousands of jobs.


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Europe's Move Towards Military Recruitment -- Will Canada Be Far Behind?
#1353
Last Monday at 5:00 PM

Whether it's voluntary recruitment or a form of military draft, it's happening in different parts of Europe as fear of war with Russia mounts.  Ukraine was the tipping point here but the moves are taking place, and the question is will the same concerns become apparent in Canada. Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto joins us for her regular Monday session, "Our Changing World".  


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Good Talk -- The Pipeline Deal That Could Make or Break The Liberals
#1352
Last Friday at 5:00 PM

Twelve hundred people were on their feet in Calgary yesterday applauding Mark Carney and Danielle Smith for the deal they signed that could lead to a new pipeline to move Alberta oil to markets. But there was a cost too ...Carney lost a minister, and the BC government and indigenous groups are more than a little bit upset. What happens now?  Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson look for answers in this week's Good Talk.


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Your Turn -- A New Oil Pipeline, Yes or No?
#1351
11/27/2025

On the day a memorandum of understanding is about to be signed between Alberta and Canada, listeners to the Bridge have their say about a new pipeline to British Columbia's west coast. None of the writers are shy about their opinions and both sides of the argument are reflected. And then, the Random Ranter drops by with his take on a very different issue.


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Keith Boag on Donald Trump -- What To Make Of Trump 2.0.
#1350
11/26/2025

Some of you have been writing, asking "where is Keith Boag?" Today the answer, as the former Washington correspondent brings us up to date on his latest thinking about Donald Trump. Throughout last year's campaign we relied on Keith's assessment of all things US political. And now, a year later, where are we?  


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Moore Butts Conversation #28 - Why Are Pipelines So Hard To Build?
#1349
11/25/2025

This week seems to be all pipelines all the time. Alberta and Canada seem close to a deal on a memorandum of understanding about a new pipeline to the west coast. But now how do you make that MOU become a real finalized deal because let's face it, pipelines in Canada are hard to build. James Moore and Gerald Butts talk pipelines and the shift topics to talk jet fighters and the intense lobbying going on for those.


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Is There Any Chance For A Peace Deal in Ukraine?
#1348
11/24/2025

Donald Trump puts forward a peace deal for Ukraine, a deal pretty well everyone rejects except Russia. But is this just the first step in a real attempt to find a way to end the war in Ukraine? Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto, fresh from the annual Halifax International Security Forum,  joins for her regular Monday commentary. Also up for discussion, Europe and Canada's fears about the future of democracy.


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Good Talk -- Kings, Queens, Ambassadors and Jet Fighters - Dealing for Dollars, Jobs and Security.
#1347
11/21/2025

Another week where there's lots to talk about with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. The US is playing hardball through its ambassador to Canada over which jet fighter we "must" buy, while Sweden sends its King and Queen to push its option. And then there's the pipeline story -- could a deal between Ottawa and Alberta be close on that? All this while the PM is off on another global trade mission.


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Your Turn - Would You Buy A Home Based Robot Helper?
#1346
11/20/2025

The price is high, very high, like at least twenty thousand dollars. But would you buy a robot designed to help you do housework around the home? It's not only coming but it's kind of there already. That's our AI based question of the week and as you always do, you had thoughts on this. And the Random Ranter is here this week as well and you won't want to miss him either.


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A Wednesday End Bits Special
#1345
11/19/2025

A potpourri of things you just might want to know about: why too much coffee is dangerous for drivers; how to reduce your salt intake and why you should; new moves to restrict social media for youngsters; and, wait for it, the top ten trending names for puppies and kittens. Yes, it's come to this on The Bridge!


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Raj and Russo -- The Liberals Survive, What Happens Now?
#1344
11/18/2025

So in the end the Mark Carney government survived the budget vote. But you have to wonder whether the 140-138 vote in the Commons was what they really wanted. Sure it avoids a messy Christmas season election, but it also avoids what may have been the PM's best chance of turning a minority into a majority. We'll discuss that and what happens now with The Economist's Rob Russo and the Toronto Star's Althia Raj on this Tuesday's Reporter's Notebook.


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Is Chatter Just Chatter or Is An Invasion of Venezuela About To Happen?
#1343
11/17/2025

Mondays mean Dr Janice Stein, and today is no different. The Munk School Director from the University of Toronto drops by for her regular Monday session. The topics vary, from India and Pakistan on edge again to the Ukraine war to the very real possibility that the United States is about to launch broad-scale action against Venezuela. 


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Good Talk -- The Government Could Fall on Monday But Will It?
#1342
11/14/2025

The numbers certainly conclude that if all opposition MPs vote against the budget then the government will fall. But will that happen and will it happen next week? All that on the heels of the budget and the latest major projects list? That and this question -- Is Mark Carney still green? All this with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson on this week's Good Talk. 


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Your Turn -- What Do You Think Of Floor Crossers?
#1341
11/13/2025

A week after the budget and the floor crossing, many Canadians are still talking of both and mainly the latter. So we asked this week's question -- What do you think of floor crossers?". Your answers plus this week's rant from the Random Ranter whose message this time is about AI -- and he's still not impressed.


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Moore Butts #28 - How Do You Explain Last Week?
#1340
11/12/2025

Last week was quite something, even for Canadian politics. A big-time Liberal budget with a huge deficit, while chaos ruled in the Conservative opposition. How do you explain that? That's the question for our extremely popular panel feature, a former top Liberal advisor and a former Conservative cabinet minister. Strap in for this one.


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Encore - Remembering Remembrance Day
#1339
11/11/2025

An encore of last week's Your Turn episode, it's our annual Remembrance Day program where you share your memories with us. And again this year, you didn't disappoint with letters and emails from coast to coast to coast.


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Our Changing World - What Are We Missing?
#1338
11/10/2025

Our weekly conversation with Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto. New developments in Venezuela, special "rich mineral" visitors at the White House,  and the latest from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.


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Good Talk - Conservative Chaos Hurts Poilievre, Helps Carney
#1337
11/07/2025

Budgets, especially minority government budgets, always bring a degree of parliamentary drama. That and a lot more with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson joining Good Talk for their weekly commentary.


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Your Turn - Remembering Remembrance Day
#1336
11/06/2025

It's our annual Remembrance Day program where you share your memories with us. And again this year, you didn't disappoint with letters and emails from coast to coast to coast.


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A Wednesday Special ... with the BBC's Lyse Doucet
#1335
11/05/2025

She's the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, a great storyteller and a proud Canadian.  Lyse Doucet has her first book out this fall, and it's the story of Afghanistan.  Her book is called "The Finest Hotel in Kabul".


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Raj and Russo on Budget Day - What Happens Now?
#1334
11/04/2025

After a year of waiting, the Liberals produce a budget, one with much anticipation at a critical moment. As always, with a minority government, if the opposition votes against it, it almost certainly means an election. 


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Did Xi Own Trump - Reflections on a Big Week
#1333
11/03/2025

Last week was a huge week for big trade talk -- China and the U.S., China and Canada. What happened and will it make a difference? Just some of the questions for our regular Monday chat with Dr Janice Stein from the Munk School at the University of Toronto. Also on the agenda, Venezuela, Nigeria, the Netherlands and Sudan - Our Changing World.


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Good Talk -- Should "Profanity Pete" Be Asked To Leave?
#1332
10/31/2025

As if there isn't enough going on with trade talks broken down with the U.S., new trade possibilities with China, and a crucial budget set for Tuesday, Canadians could be facing an election within a week. And then there's the case of "Profanity Pete" the US Ambassador to Canada. Let's get some analysis with Bruce Anderson and Chantal Hebert as we convene another Good Talk.


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Your Turn -- Should We Deal Big Time With China?
#1331
10/30/2025

With the Prime Minister in Asia and talk of a much closer trade relationship with China, the question this week is "Should We?". Listeners weren't shy, as the emails came tumbling in. And the Random Ranter came by with his toughest rant yet on Donald Trump -- move over Doug Ford!


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The Good Allies - The Canada-US Relationship During WW2 - Encore
#1330
10/29/2025

An encore of an interview with celebrated Canadian military historian Tim Cook about his latest book hitting the shelves.


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Moore Butts #26 -- The Trump, Carney, Ford Mess
#1328
10/28/2025

How do two former Ottawa pros see the Trump, Carney, Ford story -- does it really matter? will it make a real difference? Former Harper cabinet minister James Moore and former Trudeau advisor Gerald Butts get together for their Conversation #26. In the program's second segment, they also talk about the importance of debt and deficit as we approach the upcoming federal budget.


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Are China and the U.S. About To Cut A Huge Deal? How Could That Affect Canada?
#1327
10/27/2025

China and the United States could be on the verge of a deal that could have a huge impact on world trade. All eyes will be on a Thursday meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping -- could Canada be far behind? And Venezuela -- is regime change in the offing? Dr Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto joins for her regular Monday appearance.


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Good Talk -- Trump Kills The Trade Talks
#1326
10/24/2025

Donald Trump has terminated the trade talks with Canada after Ontario ads running in the U.S. use Ronald Reagan's voice condemning tariffs. Is this serious or just Trump bluster?  Meanwhile, the Carney government's first budget is now just days away, and the PM says Canadians will need to make sacrifices. And, Pierre Poilievre has another bad week. All this and more with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson.


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Your Turn -- Will The Middle East Ever See Real Peace?
#1325
10/23/2025

This week's question followed the new peace deal in the Middle East, which is still being tested. We asked: "What are the chances of everlasting peace in that region?" As always, you go beyond just saying yes or no, which makes for some interesting answers. Then, as he does every week, the Random Ranter drops by with his thoughts this week on, Canada's team -- The Toronto Blue Jays.


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A Wednesday Endbits Special -- How to Save Your Relationship in One Minute
#1324
10/22/2025

Is your relationship on rocky ground? One of today's endbits offers some HELPFUL suggestions that only take one minute. Wednesdays are usually encore episodes of the Bridge, but occasionally we save up our collected endbits and give you a special show. This is one of those days.


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Reporters Notebook -- Raj and Russo with the Hill chatter they're hearing.
#1323
10/21/2025

Journalists hear lots of things in the course of a day on Parliament Hill, and then they work towards trying to nail things down. What's real, what isn't? On the latest edition of Reporter's Notebook Rob Russo and Althia Raj talk about it all from Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre to trade talks and a possible cabinet shuffle.


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A Week After The Peace Deal, Will It Hold?
#1322
10/20/2025

It's been a week since Donald Trump heralded a peace deal for the ages in the Middle East. It hasn't all gone easy in the seven days since, so the question is -- can the deal hold? Dr Janice Stein of the Munk School at the University of Toronto is with us for her regular Monday chat as we discuss that plus Ukraine and China.


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Good Talk -- A Night To Remember
#1321
10/17/2025

There are going to be a lot of special programs done in the next few weeks, leading up to the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Quebec Referendum. A night that those of us who witnessed it will never forget. Tension and emotion ruled the evening. Chantal, Bruce and I were all in different roles watching the story unfold, and this week we talk about what was a historic moment. in the story of Canada, and what it still means in today's world.


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Your Turn -- Would You Run For Public Office?
#1320
10/16/2025

We've thought about asking this question before but something else always came up, but not this week. It's time. Would you run for public office? Any public office. If so, why?  If not, why not?  I think the answers are quite revealing about how Canadians feel about public office holders, and perhaps not what you think. Plus the Random Ranter is here, and he's ready for hardball on autos.


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A Wednesday End-Bits Special - Encore
#1319
10/15/2025

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on October 8th. At popular request, no encore this Wednesday, but instead an end-bits special. News you can use, and some you probably will choose to ignore! Everything from what's best to do - shower in the morning or evening, to which car colour holds it resale value best? And a lot more -- enjoy.


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Moore Butts #25 -- Is This Any Way To Run A Country?
#1318
10/14/2025

The country was founded on the principle that it's a confederation where both federal and provincial levels of government have powers and responsibilities. It's worked for 158 years, but does it still work? Another fascinating Moore-Butts Conversation, especially relevant to the times Canada is living in today.


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Your Turn -- Why Are You Grateful This Thanksgiving? - Encore
#1317
10/13/2025

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on October 9th. Even in the darkest of times, there are things to be grateful for in our lives. And this week, listeners to The Bridge have a selection of reasons they are thankful as we approach Thanksgiving weekend. Even the Random Ranker gives thanks too!


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Good Talk: Trump and Carney, Did Anything Really Change?
#1316
10/10/2025

When Donald Trump and Mark Carney met in the White House for the first time a few months ago, the meeting looked, and was, tense. Not so this latest time. Smiles, laughs and lots of almost boyish banter. What was that all about?  Has anything really changed? Could a deal be in the offing, or was it all for the cameras? Bruce and Chantal have their say.


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